Operating mechanism for washing-machines.



0.1. MARTH.

OPERATING NECHANISNI FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25. 1915. 1,181,329. Patented 1113121916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0.1.1. MARTH. OPERATING MECHANISIVI FOR WASHING MACHINES.,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. I9I5.

v Patented May 2,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ull IIII- Illlagitator shaft project.

iinrrnn srafins PATENT @FFIEQ CHARLES J'. MARTH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,ASSIGNOR TO I/VAYNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACORPORATION 0F MISSOURI.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

lmeines.

Application filed February 25, 1915.

To all wwm t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. MARTH, a citizenof the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State oi'Missouri, have invented a new and useful Operating Mechanism forlashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

rThis invention relates to washing machines and consists in the noveldesign, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fullydisclosed.

An object of the invention is to provide a washing machine comprising atub orreceptacle wherein an agitator of novel design is operativelymounted in combination with means for reciprocating the agitator.

Speciiic objects and advantages to be obtained from the use of theconstruction of the present invention will readily appear to thoseskilled in the art without specific mention, from the following detaileddescription thereof in which reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings and in which- V Figure 1 is a to-p plan view of a washingmachine embodying my invention the cover of the tub being removed. Fig.2 is a bottom plan view of the washing machine. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the washing machine a portion of the tub being broken awayto more fully disclose the interior arrangement of the agitator andassociated parts. Fig. 4 is a Cross sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 4 4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken onthe line --hof Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a side view of the washing machinesubstantially rom a point at a rightangle from the view illustrated inFig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan of the upper end of the agitator connected tothe agitator shaft, with a portion of the cover and Closure surroundingthe agitator head. Fig. 8 is a. vertical section through the sameconnection as is illustrated in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a plan view, thehead of the agitator with certain parts removed. j

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings I have showna tub 1supported by standards or legs 2, the tub being suliiciently elevatedabove the floor to accommodate the driving mechanism which is supportedbelow the tub. The tub is provided with a removable cover or lid 3, saidcover or lid being provided with an opening 4 through which the upperend of the agitator and Supported upon the Specification of LettersPatent.

)Patented May 2, 1916.

Serial No. 10,629.

upper face of the cover or lid encircling the opening 4 is a ring 5. Aclosure comprising matching segmental plates 5a are pivoted on said ringand are adapted to be latched about the extending eiid of the agitator,to close the space between the same and the walls for the opening l whenthe parts are adjusted.

A tubular standard 6 is supported within the tub 1 in an uprightposition substantially at the center of the tub; said standardbeingbolted to or otherwise engaged with the bottom of the tub in themanner clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. An agitator shaft 7is slidably mounted within the standard 6 and is of a sufficient lengthso that it extends above the upper and below the lower end of thestandard through an opening in the bottom wall of the tub. The lower endof the shaft 7 which projects through the bottom of the tub is guidedand supported by a bracket 8 which is provided with passage-ways oropenings 9 and l0, respectively, for the shaft 7. The upper end of theshaft 7 is threaded to receive the connecting element of the agitator,as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The agitator element which is releasably mounted upon the agitator shaft7 is ot novel construction and design and comprises a hub element l1 inthe form of a hollow cylinder from the lower end of which cxtend spacedobliquely extending legs 12, which support at the lower ends an annularplate 14. rlhe interior diameter of the hub member 1l is such that whenin position it will lit over the upper end of the standard so that whenthe agitator shaft is i'ccijvirocated the agitator will be held inproper adjustment and guided in its reciprocating action so that it maymove up and down in a. path true to its axis. A hood or cup l5 isconical in form and is bolted to the plate la in the manner clearlyillustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, by retorence to which it will beseen that the small end ot said hood or cup is secured to the lower faceof the annular plate 14;, the bolts passing through an inturned flangeformed at the upper end of said hood and through said plate. A circularplate 'i6 is mounted in a horizontal position at the top ot the hood orcup l5 and is held in position between the inturned flange and the platoit it being clamped therebetween, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. rThe plate 1G extends beyond the upperI edge of the hood orcup for some distance and serves the function of preventing the clothesin the tub from packing against the outer slopA ing walls of the hoodand also prevents the streams of water ejected from the perforati ons inthe walls of the hood, when the hood is depressed, from splashingagainstithe upper part of the tub.

The agitator is adapted to be releasably connected to the agitatorshaft. 1n the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing thereleasable connection comprises a nut 17 interiorly threaded and adaptedto be screwed upon the threaded end of the agitator shaft. rl`he nut 17is provided with an enlarged lower portion 17 which is adapted to seatin a recess formed in the upper face of the hub element 11 and toberetained in position by segmental lplates 1S, which are held in positionby screws passing therethrough and into the upper face of the hub memberas illustrated in Fig. 9 in which one of the plates 18is shown inposition and the other removed. In order to facilitate the adjustment ofthe nut over the end of the agitator shaft an engageable portion or handhold 17h is provided.

The hub element 11 a slight distance below the headv thereof, isprovided with offset portions 13 which are cut through to the inner partof the hub, as clearly -illustrated in Fig. S. This construction admitsair to the inner portion of the hub element and prevents a vacuum beingcreated in the hub which would draw the water over the edge of thestandard 6 causing leakage through the bottom of the tub. It will benoted also that there are spaces or passage ways between the legs A12for the eXit of the water that is forced around the standard 6 betweenit and the walls of the opening through the plate 14, the plate 1G andthe opening in the hood 15. ln practice it has been found that theinrush of the water at this point is considerable on the depression ofthe agitator and unless exit means therefor be provided it will. form acushion in the interior of the hub and also force wate downwardly in thestandard and out through the bottom of the tub, and it is to overcomethis disadvantage that the space between the legs 12 and the openings 13have been provided.

In operation the tub, as will be understood, is first supplied withwater and the clothes to be washed placed therein and the agitator thenplaced in position upon the agitator shaft and the releasable connectionadjusted to cooperatively connect the shaft with the agitator, and thecover then placed in position and the closure 5a locked about the hub 11of the agitator. As the agitator shaft 7 is reciprocated in an up anddown path of movement, the agitator upon its downward movement into thewater and against the clothes compresses a volume of air within the hoodor cup, forcing the same through `the clothes and at the ksame timeagitating the clothes in the water. Upon the upward movement of theagitator a partial vacuum or suction is created beneath the hood or cupof the agitator, drawing the water upwardly through the clothes disposedtherebeneath. This forced passage of the water and air through theclothes effectively removes therefrom all foreign substances without inthe least damaging the fabric. Moreover, the larrangement of the plate16 above the sloping walls of the hood or cup 15, provides means forcausing the movement of volumes of water in lateral and obliquedirections. Upon the downward movement of the agitator the water andclothes disposed in the space between the outer edge of the hood and thesides of the tub are drawn toward the agitator and away from thecorrugated walls of the tub, the clothes coming in frictional contactwith said corrugations thereby effecting a rubbing action thereon. Whenthe agitator is moved upwardly the volume of water and clothes about thehood are impelled outwardly against the sides of the tub again coming infrictional contact with the corrugations on the tub. Thus the entirecontents of the tub comes under the iniiuence ofthe action of th'eagitator, so that by the joint action of frictional rubbing against thebottom and side walls of the tub and the rapid passage of volumes ofwater through the clothes in both directions as thorough cleansing ofall of the clothes contained in the tub will be readily eected and thedegree of cleansing will `be substantially uniform throughout the entiremass of clothes.

The mechanism for reciprocating the agitator shaft comprises a handlever made in two sections, the upper section 2O being detachablyconnected to the lower section 21 by bolting it to an angle portion 22of the lower section by a bolt 23; the lower section of said handoperating lever is pivotedl above its end at 2li@ on a bracket 24;supported by the side of the tub. rlChe lower end of the operating leveris connected to a swinging lever 25 pivotally supported at its upper endat 26 to a bracket 27 mounted on the side of the tub near the upper edgethereof, by a link 28 which has pivot connection 29 with Lthe lower endof the operating lever at one end and pivot connection 30 at the otherend with the swinging lever 25. The pivot connection 30 may be madeadjustable .so that it may be adjusted longitudinally of the swinginglever 25 thereby effecting an adjustment of the leverage. A link 31 ispivotally connected at 32 to the free end of the lever 25; said link atthe opposite end being pivotally and eccentrically connected at 33 to alargegear wl1eel. g? 4.4 The gear vwheel is mounted, 'on a lshaft B5whicf'h ijf supported in a bracket 3 6. The braket 36 is attached to thebottom ofthe tub adjacent to the edge thereof, and ispro'- yided with aneXtendin-gportion A3'? in tvhiil'll 1s secured an ,outwardly 4extendingstud or shaftflll. A balance wheel 39 is mounted bin the stud 38 and hasformed integral therewith a hub element 40 which carries asmall pinion4l which meshes with the large gear wheel 34` The bracket is alsoprovided with a bearing block in wliich is journaled the inner end ofAthe shaft 35. The shaft 35 'carries near its inner end a pinion ad'.ri. l c "ounter-'sh 'a ft 44 is r'evblubl-y mounted below the lsll ftand is 'supported at each end in 45 and 46, respectively. The bearing 45is formed in a downwardly extended portion of the bracket 36 and thebearing.

4G is formed in a yoke portion47 of a ribbed plate'48 which extendsinwardly to the center of the bottom of the tub. 1t will be understoodthat the preferable constructioni's that shown in the drawings in whichthe bracket 36, the extending portion 37, the bearing 4Q, the plate 48,the yoke 47 and the bracket 8 ing, although it will of course beapparent that these parts may be made in separate 'castings if desire/deThe counter-shaft 44 hasrigidly mounted thereon a pinion 49 which isadapted to' mesh with the gear 43 whereby the shaft 44 is driven. Theinner end of the shaft 44 has attached thereto a crank arm 50 the freeend of which is adapted to engage in an oblong slot or race-way 51formed in a plate 5 2. rlhe plate 52 carries on its rearward face a boss53 which is provided with an opening through which the agitator shaftextends. A set screw 54 threaded into the boss 53 provides means fordetachably and adjustably connecting the plate 52 to the agitator shaft7. By reference to Fig. 4 of the. drawings it will be noted that therearward face of the plate 52 engages against and slides upon the armsof the bracket 8 at points adjacent to each of the respective ends ofsaid plate. This arrangement provides means for preventing the turningof the agitating shaft and keeping the parts in proper operativeadjustment. Y

l It will be observed that by mounting the driving mechanism below thetub the entire upper part of the machine is free from any permanentlyfixed obstructions so that the entire cover may be raised from the tub,

permitting a hood of a relatively large diameter being adjusted upon theagitator shaft. Moreover, the fact that the driving mechanism is placedin a position below the tub adds to the safety of the machine forl thereason that the exposed gearing and associated parts is in a position toprevent the.

'are all made in one integral cast-` injury to unskilled operatives.. Inwashing maehiiesf ,the overhead drive type the liability ofthe hands dfthe.. operator coifl= ing in ,contact with the drive mechanismhat-.Lessen dto' abound-embleem@ their nenne-stia. .n "disability aaaaniayi o, irais disadvahtagehais beenovercome, at greatly minimized, bythe present con'- struction.

From the foregoing description of ,the mechanism for e erating theagitator shaft it will bennclers and that by the reciproca; tion of theoperating lever, the spinning levei25 is op rated and that the forcefrom lit lower.. end4 6r, eine lever-j', is inninaarl to the link 3lwhich rotates the lgear' 344 the gear 34 being entrained with thebalance wheel provides for balancing the operation of the actuatingmechanism. The balance wheel after the operation of the mechanism hasbeen initiated assists in carrying the gear over dead centen andminimizing to a considerable extent, the amount of Apower applied to theoperating lever requisitefor the operation of thodriving mechanism. Therotation imparted to `the shaft 35 by the actuation of the gfear' istransmitted to the shaft 44 by the spee'd-inereasingl gear ing,comprising'the gear43 and thepinion' It is obvious that the rotation -ofthe shaft 44 operating the lcrank arm 50 imparts to the agitator shaft avertical recipro# catoiy in'ovement as the' free end of the crank armtravels in its race-way 51, thus imparting to the agitator a rapidrecipro-l eating motion in an up and down path of movement.

lVhile I have illustrated and described my' invention as embodied in a.washing machine it is obvious that other uses may be made of themechanism where the end to be attained is the rapid agitation of liquidin a container'. It will also be obvious that details of constructionmay be changed within equivalent limits and I do not restrict myself,therefore, either to the embodiment of my invention in a washing machineor to specific features of construction that I have illustrated anddescribed for the purposes ofthe present disclosure, but

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

l. The combination with a support, and a shaft mounted therein, ofmechanism for limparting to said shaft a vertical reciprocating motioncomprising a lever fulcrumed to said support, a second lever connectedwith said first-named lever', a large gear wheel linked to the lower endof said secondnamed lever, a balance wheel entrained with said gearwheel, a shaft driven by said gear wheel, a second shaft entrained withsaid first-named shaft by a speed increasing gearing, a crank arm drivenby said seco-ndnained shaft, and a connection between said crank arm andsaid shaft, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a support, of a lever pivoted thereto, anOperating lever connected to said first-named lever, a large gear wheellinked to one end of said firstnamed lever, a balance wheel carried bysaid support, a speed increasing connection between said gear wheel andsaid balance wheel, a shaft driven by said large gear wheel, a secondshaft entrained with said first-named shaft, and a vertically disposedshaft operatively connected to said lastnamed shaft for imparting analternating vertical movement thereto from the continuous rotary motionof said second-named shaft, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a support, of a horizontally disposed drivenshaft, a lever pivoted to said support, power connections between saidlever and said shaft whereby said shaft is rotated continuously in onedirection by oscillation of said lever, a second horizontal shaftentrained with said first-named shaft by speed increasing gearing, abalance wheel, gearing entraining said balance wheel with one of saidshafts, a crank arm operated by said second shaft, a vertical shaft, anda connection between said crank arm and saidA vertical shaft wherebysaid -vertical shaft is caused to reciprocate in an up and down path ofmovement.

4. The combination with a support, a lever of the first class pivoted tosaid support, a lever of the third class pivoted to said support, a linkoperatively connecting said levers, a gear wheel, a link operativelyconnecting said second-named lever with said gear wheel, a balance wheelentrained with said gear wheel, a shaft driven by said gear wheel, avertically disposed shaft, and connections between said driven shaft andsaid vertically disposed shaft whereby an alternating motion in avertical path is imparted to the latter by a continuous rotary motion ofthe former, substantially as specified.

5. In a machine of the character described, a support, a hollow standardattached to one side of said support, a shaft extending through saidsupport and through said hollow standard, a mechanism mounted on saidshaft on the same side of said support with said standard, a drive shaftmounted below said support, means for rotating said last-named shaft,speed increasing transmission devices driven by said drive shaft, andymeans driven by said transmission devices for reciprocating` saidfirst-named shaft longitudinally effectively to actuate said mechanism,by the continuous rotation of said second-named shaft in one direction.

6, In a machine of the character described, the combination with asupport, a shaft extending above and below said support, a mechanismcarried by said shaft above said support, means above and below saidsupport for guiding said shaft in its movements, a revoluble shaftcarried below said support, a connection between said revoluble shaftand said first-named shaft for imparting a vertical reciprocatingmovement to said first-named shaft by the continuous rotation of saidrevoluble shaft in one direction, a gear wheel, a lever, linkconnections whereby oscillation of said lever will rotate said gearwheel in either direction as desired, and means for driving saidrevoluble shaft from said gear wheel.

7. In a machine of the character described, a support, a lever pivotedto said support, a second lever pivoted to said support, a linkconnecting one end of said firstnamed lever with said second-namedlever,V

a gear wheel, a link connecting said second lever with said gear wheel,a shaft, means driven by said gear wheel for revolving said shaft, avertical shaft, guides in which said vertical shaft is movable, amechanism controlled by said vertical shaft, and crank connectionsbetween said vertical shaft and said first-named shaft whereby saidvertical shaft will be reciprocated longitudinally by the continuousrotation of said first-named shaft in either direction.

8. The combination with a support, a lever of the first class pivoted tosaid support, a large gear wheel, means for revolving said gear wheel bysaid lever, a balance wheel entrained with said gear wheel, a shaftdriven by said gear wheel, a crank device, speed-increasing gearing fordriving said crank device from said shaft and at relatively greaterspeed than said shaft, a hollow standard, a vertical shaft operativelymounted in said standard, and means for imparting an alternatingvertical motion to said vertical shaft from said crank device by thecontinuous rotation of said firstnamed shaft in one direction.

9. The combination with a support of a horizontal shaft, a verticallever of the first class pivoted to said support, mechanism forimparting a continuous rotary motion to said shaft by operation of saidlever, a balance wheel entrained with said shaft, a second shaftentrained with said first-named shaft by speed-increasing gearing, acrank arm operated by said second shaft, a hollow vertical standard anda connection between said crank arm and said vertical shaft, wherebysaid vertical shaft is reciprocated vertically by the continuousrotation of said first-named shaft in one direction.

10. The combination of a support, a lever pivoted to said support, anadditional lever pivoted to said support, a link connecting said twolevers, a gear wheel, a link connecting one of said levers With saidgear Wheel, a balance Wheel, a horizontal shaft driven by said gearWheel, an additional shaft driven by said horizontal shaft, a Verticalshaft and connections driven by said additional shaft for reciprocatingsaid vertical shaft vertically by operation of said additional shaft.

In Witness whereof, I have signed this specleation in the presence oftWo subserlb- 1o ing Witnesses.

CHARLES J. MARTI-I.

Witnesses:

R. M. LAWRENCE, JOHN D. RrrriiY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

